On Drafting
Writing is hard.
There, I said it.
It's really, really hard.
I remember stumbling over my writing assignments in university. I couldn't help but wonder, why was I struggling so much to get my ideas on the page? What was going on? It wasn't until later in life that I heard people openly talk about the craft of writing, in an unpretentious way, but also the difficulties and challenges of writing.
So, I wanted to share a few thoughts on the matter.
On Drafting
Thinking about what you are writing about is part of the writing process.
I used to believe that if I wasn't physically writing, I wasn't making progress. But then, I had an English professor at Northwestern who explained that those moments when you space out and think about your topic, usually when you are doing something mundane or resting, are part of the writing process. I audibly sighed with relief in class! Let your mind wander, and have a good think - it's all part of the process!
The "shitty rough draft" is a thing, and it is okay.
The "shitty rough draft" is a stage of writing. Also at Northwestern, I had a history professor who was gracious enough to share an early draft of their dissertation. It was a mix of lovely paragraphs with random bullet points and margin notes all over it. It was refreshingly familiar. Seeing this early draft from someone so accomplished was, again, relieving, but also incredibly affirming.
On Writing
Talk it out.
First, if you struggle to get your words on the page, try speaking aloud instead. If you would like to reference it later, consider recording it using the Voice Memo app or Otter.ai. Both provide transcripts you can base your first written draft on.
Second, after your first draft, read it aloud - either to yourself, a friend, or your pet. (My cats have heard quite a lot of my research papers over the years!) Reading it aloud, as opposed to silently to oneself, will help catch anything amiss.
After Writing
Breathe in, breathe out.
Step away from your rough draft and take a moment for self-care to feel refreshed, like eating a snack, taking a nap, or watching an episode of your favorite TV show. Getting space from the text lets your brain rest. You'll be able to see things in a new light.
Final Thoughts
Perhaps it’s my own bias as an editor, but I believe the craft (and dare I say magic) of writing is in the editing and re-drafting. I’ll help you shape that perpetual penultimate draft - Final Draft 5, Final Draft 12, or wherever you are stuck. You’ll decide when it’s final.